Excellent analogy, Derek -- thanks for the reminder. I suggest one tweak: when we are run down and don't take proper care of our bodies and minds, the morning's pitcher isn't guaranteed to be full. I am recovering from a couple decades of balancing a demanding career with a busy life as a musician, and I can attest to how letting myself get burned out left me with a pitcher that was not even half-full on many days.
Only cup I'd add is something like friends or community. Are you working to maintain or strengthen your connections? Are you doing something that benefits your larger local community? Lots of research like the Harvard study show that strong social connections are the source of true happiness.
Love this framing, Derek. Between this and your thoughtful reflections in my “psychology of ambition” session yesterday, I think it would be super-fun to do a Substack Live chat with you on the “psychology of abundance”! Would you be game?
phor and no one could disagree with the sentiment. That said, one's preference for filling one cup probably varies not just in relation to the total amount in the pitcher but depending on the level of the other cups and the cup itself. The value of 100ml of water in your family cup you've just filled from empty is not the same as it is for the next 100ml. Equally, having a very full close friend cup might modify the value of your 100ml family cup. Statistically I think it's something like main effects vs interaction. Anyway, thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Excellent analogy, Derek -- thanks for the reminder. I suggest one tweak: when we are run down and don't take proper care of our bodies and minds, the morning's pitcher isn't guaranteed to be full. I am recovering from a couple decades of balancing a demanding career with a busy life as a musician, and I can attest to how letting myself get burned out left me with a pitcher that was not even half-full on many days.
Good point
Banger of a read. “WORK, TIKTOK, WIFE, DISHES, EXERCISE, REGRET, PARENTS, ANXIETY, GOD” should be on a shirt.
Only cup I'd add is something like friends or community. Are you working to maintain or strengthen your connections? Are you doing something that benefits your larger local community? Lots of research like the Harvard study show that strong social connections are the source of true happiness.
I really enjoyed this analogy.
Chris Hayes also talked about this in The Sirens’ Call and focuses more on social media but discusses how our attention is finite.
I would like to read/hear more on your thoughts about the topic in this newsletter in future newsletters.
I thought this was going to be about cheating on drug screening urinalysis tests.
Love this framing, Derek. Between this and your thoughtful reflections in my “psychology of ambition” session yesterday, I think it would be super-fun to do a Substack Live chat with you on the “psychology of abundance”! Would you be game?
Great reminder, ty
It's a nice meta
phor and no one could disagree with the sentiment. That said, one's preference for filling one cup probably varies not just in relation to the total amount in the pitcher but depending on the level of the other cups and the cup itself. The value of 100ml of water in your family cup you've just filled from empty is not the same as it is for the next 100ml. Equally, having a very full close friend cup might modify the value of your 100ml family cup. Statistically I think it's something like main effects vs interaction. Anyway, thanks for the thought-provoking post.